John literally says, “That there will be time no longer.” The word for “time” appears also in Revelation 2:21 and Revelation 6:11, both of which speak of a (short) period of time (to repent or to rest). This angel now swears that such an interval, a period of time, would no longer exist. Hence the translation, “no more delay.” It had taken time for the Lamb to open the seven seals and more time for each angel to blow their trumpets one after the other. As the reader reads Revelation 8:1 – 9:21, he fully expects the sounding of the seventh trumpet – but instead we read of this mighty angel. We are here assured that the interlude represented by the appearance of this mighty angel (and hence the delay in the blowing of the seventh trumpet) does not mean tardiness on the Lord’s part in causing the necessary plagues to happen; rather, this angel states emphatically that time has run out. The seventh angel shall blow his awful trumpet momentarily and the third woe will unfold upon the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 8:13).
6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,